Maribel

Thirty years ago, civilization collapsed. Few survived.Ten years ago, the aliens arrived…and stayed.One year ago, I killed two men and went a little crazy.Today, the aliens took my brother and I will do anything to get him back.

Until recently, the E’rikon have remained segregated in their city and ignored the few humans who have tried to engage them… but now they have taken Jax’s brother. To rescue him, she forms an uneasy alliance with a teenage E’rikon left stranded in the woods. She agrees to guide him to the city if he sneaks her past the human-proof barrier. Too bad it’s not that simple.

Jax, who cannot stand to be touched, finds that she’s drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales down his back. And he’s equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn’t know the alien’s true motives and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.

In this world where alien and human are at odds, the connection forming between the two has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets a chain of events in motion which threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself.

Review

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

It's so long a wait for the sequel! There were so many things that made me fall in love with this book that I had to make a list. So here goes, in no particular order:

~Lir. LIR. He has become my latest book boyfriend. He's funny and makes the heroine very aware of his presence. He's sweet and charming and his eyebrow thing is sexy.

~The relationship between Jax and Jace is strong and reminds me of the relationships I have with my siblings. It's practically unbreakable, and we would do anything to protect each other if it came to that. Jax and Jace have a strong bond and that was something I found I could relate to strongly.

~The supporting characters helped move the plot along. This in particular is important to me because if characters are just there to fill up pages, then they shouldn't be there at all.

~The plot idea. It's one I haven't exactly come upon, as most apocalypse/dystopia novels tend to focus on the zombies vs. humans scenario. I liked that this was a different twist to the genre and it was well executed.

I could go on (and on) but then you'd be bored. I love it when books have cliffhangers (I know that's not the norm nor majority) because it leaves me with something to look forward to.

If there is something that I have to say I didn't like, it would probably be Lir's uncle. I hate him! But without a villain, there wouldn't really be a story. So I grudgingly accept he has to exist.

Nearly a century ago the world was decimated by a magical war. In their defeat, elves were captured by humans, cut off from their magic, and broken down into lifeless, drone-like slaves.

Avery is different. Somehow, her magic has always simmered beneath the surface. Never completely broken, she must pretend in order to survive. When Zander, her master’s nephew, brings her magic out in full force, she finds out what it’s like to truly be alive.

Ripped from Zander’s side and sent to The Farm, Avery doesn’t know if she’ll be able to hide her light and make it out alive. But there, she’ll meet someone who knows her true purpose.

The war isn’t over, and if Avery can survive, she could be the one to set her people free. All it takes is a little hope and a Spark of Light.

Review

***I received this book in exchange for an honest review.***

I like that this was a different take on the apocalypse theme. Normally, books that talk about the apocalypse or talk about dystopian worlds are focused solely on a world made up of only humans. I liked that this involved magical creatures, even though we only saw one kind in this book.

One thing that sort of bugged me was the recklessness of Zander. He wasn't really the kind of person to think things through, and I grew angry at him a few times because of how he puts Avery in danger. That is more of a personal dislike though, and it didn't really affect how I liked the book overall.

Although, what did affect this review is the rushed ending. I would have liked to see it a little more detailed and drawn out, so it wouldn't feel like everything just happens rapidly to finish the book. At some points towards the end I felt like the characters experienced slight personality changes. They weren't big, but they were noticeable because I feel that there wasn't much character buildup/growth for them to show the changes they did.

I wish that we could have found out what exactly happened to Oliver at the FARM. We only know it's not good, but no details were really provided there. I hope we get to find out in the second book.

Other than those issues, this book flowed really well and I sympathized with Avery for the abuse she experiences throughout the story. The supporting characters moved the story along and didn't feel like characters that were just there.

Thirty-two-year-old Richard Franchitti didn't believe in love at first sight until he met free-spirited Catherine and started a brand new life. A devoted father and husband, Richard fought to keep his family together when it would have been easier to walk away.

Tragedy left him with unfinished business.

Now a disembodied spirit, Richard relives his most important days. From the beginnings of unconditional love, to the joy of his daughter’s birth, and all of the difficult times in between, each treasured moment brings him closer to answering the question:

“Why am I still here?”

He was born Richard Franchitti, but his friends call him Ricky. Welcome to his funeral.

Review

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

Where to begin? Words. I should use words.

This book was beautiful, like a celebration of life. You get Ricky's good times, as well as the bad ones. As corny as it sounds, this book is a reminder to all to live life to the fullest. It's about forgiving and letting go of the grudges you may hold, and to try to enjoy every moment, so when you look back on your life, you can say it wasn't all a waste of time.

I think some of us have wondered at least once in our lifetime how life would continue on after we're gone. Will people miss us? Will they cry? How have you affected their lives? None of us really knows what happens after we die, but Funeral with a View allows us to imagine what it would be like.

You know what will happen eventually, because Ricky is dead and it's inevitable. But it didn't make make me cry any less because you grow attached to the characters and saying goodbye is never easy.

Funeral with a View was a funny, sad, happy, angry book that deserves all 5 Platypires!

A few months ago, I was a normal girl. Life sucked, and just like everyone else, I took the simple things for granted. At least until I got this new power, a "gift" my mom called it. Apparently, I'm a firestarter. I didn't want to be. I didn't ask to be. It would be cool if it wasn't so dangerous and I knew how to control it. When an uncle I'd never heard of showed up to take care of me after my mom died, I should have been grateful. As it turned out, my whole family isn't normal and more than a little bit crazy. I thought things couldn't get any worse. I was wrong. They banished me to Ever.

Review

I freaking loved this novella series! I honestly cannot think of anything I didn't like about any of the volumes, except perhaps that I wish there were more in this series!

It's imaginative and creative. It's a bizarre world that the reader is thrust into, and I don't know if it's because I've watched Jumanji waaay too many times, but I imagined the Rainbow Jungle described in this series as containing some of the wildlife and plantlife you see in Jumanji. But you know, more colorful and with bizarre creatures.

You really have to feel sorry for Misha. She is bombarded with loads of bad news and then is banished from the world into another world called Ever. And Ever isn't the kind of place where people seem to survive for long, unless they know how.

To top it all off, she has to control the unusual power she has, and try not let it kill her in the process. I was able to guess some of the plot points, but not very many because the story is unpredictable. At least to me it was.

A sort of love triangle develops, but we clearly see Misha's feelings for one person. There is never a dull moment, and I was highly entertained. I liked that loose ends are tied up nice and tidy, as it makes a well-rounded story. I wish Jen Wylie could continue this series of novellas, as I crave more adventures in the land of Ever.

To the quiet ones, the trodden on, the kids in the hall The wolves in sheep's clothing, fooling them all. To the Goth, the dark, and the utterly strange The bizarre, the mutants, and the strangely deranged To the clinically insane and those not yet diagnosed Even un-medicated, you understand us the most This Flashy combo's for you

An anthology of the strange, bizarre, and just plain weird. In Volume 1 find Zombies, vampires, ghosts, and ...crickets? If you dare, keep reading Volume 2 for Unicorns, zombies, devils, dark whispers, teddy bears, and ...fireflies? Try a taste of writing from two very different fantasy authors. Flash fiction stories are super short and perfect for when you 'just have a minute'. These anthologies each contain 15 stories (both flash and longer short stories) from authors Sean Hayden and Jen Wylie. Run the rampart of emotions in this exciting mix of tales. From humor to horror, sweet to twisted, there is something for everyone.

Review

I must say that I wish these pieces of flash fiction were longer. The way in which they are written got me interested in seeing how some of these storylines would develop if they were fully-written books. Some were laugh out loud funny, and others had weird but interesting concepts.

Sean Hayden's writing style has a horror/adventure vibe to it, while Jen Wylie's style is more fantasy driven. But they accomplished their goal and now I want to read more from both authors, so I will have to check out more of their other work.

There were a few stories that could be considered short stories, and those in particular made me wish the pieces were longer.

I devoured this anthology in one sitting, but it is more for when you have a few spare minutes to read something short.

Open your eyes to darkness. What do you see? Does the darkness frighten you? Now imagine the darkness being the cargo hold of a slave ship. Your city has fallen. Your family is most likely dead. You don't know anyone around you, and some of them aren't even human. Giving up would be so easy to do, but not for Arowyn Mason. Not after being raised in a military family with seven brothers. Every great story should begin with a plan. Aro’s was to escape and to survive.

Escape comes, but at a price. As they reach the shore, Aro and the other survivors learn that freedom doesn’t mean safety. The slavers want their property back and will do anything to get it. The party uses every ounce of their brute strength, a hearty helping of cunning, and even ancient magics to keep themselves alive. Sickness, danger, and even love surprise them at every turn. Dealing with danger becomes their way of life, but none of them ever considered that nothing can be quite as dangerous as a prophecy. Running turns into another race altogether as her world falls to pieces again and again.

Review

This review is a long time coming. But I'm doing it now, and believe me I sorely regret not reading this book earlier.

This is the story of Aro. We are thrown right into the action two or three pages into the story. And it doesn't stop. That's a refreshing change of pace, as in most stories I've read the action doesn't start until at least one third of the way into the book.

I read this in one sitting. Feb. 7, 2015, to be exact. Which was a surprise since I can hardly ever read during the daytime due to constant interruptions.

The story keeps you interested, and I could not, for the life of me, figure out what was going to happen. I'm glad that there are other books in the series, as I will be purchasing them as soon as I have the chance.

You really have to feel sorry for Aro because she is a character that loses so much in such a short period of time. In the world she lives in, being a girl can be a weakness, and it is one she aims to hid for as long as possible.

Although I loved Aro, I found that she needs some growing up to do, and I hope to see that development in the following books. There is a sort of love-triangle going on here, but I'm wondering if it's only in my imagination because it is not a prominent part of the plot. I'm really hoping the next book in the series is as good as this one.

I liked all the characters, except for Kei and Damon. Kei because I don't necessarily trust him or care for his character, and Damon is just a big pain. Why are all ancient beings so vague and cryptic? I guess they've lived so long they have to have their kicks somehow, right? Except Damon is all that plus a jerk.

This is a very promising series and I hope to check out books 2 and 3 soon.

Rivers Young is the popular guy untouchable by reality. He is like a star—bright, consuming, otherworldly. The thing about stars, though, is that they eventually fall, and he is no different.

He falls far and he falls hard.

Delilah Bana is the outcast enshrouded in all of life's ironies. Alone, in the dark, like dusk as it falls on the world. When Rivers hits the ground, she is the night that catches him. In the darkness, they meld into something beautiful that shines like the sun.

Review

This is the last book from Lindy that I won in a giveaway a few months ago.

Oh, how this book made me wallow! Many tears were shed, so many that I ended up putting this book on pause for a good two months. I finally finished it a few days ago, and that little ending made me cry all over again because of how beautiful it was.

When we lose someone, or when you know all hope is lost, time becomes your enemy. Time, we all wish for more time. I wish these characters had been given more time.

But they weren't and that's what makes this story realistic. I know I keep saying in my reviews how Lindy's characters are real, that their stories are real. That's because Lindy tends to write realistically. And I love it. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm all for fairy tales and sweet romances, but the stuff Lindy writes is something to which anyone can relate.

Delilah is a strong character. She doesn't let what is happening to her stop her from living her life. Instead it gives her motivation to help others out while she can, so at least she made a difference.

That difference is Rivers. She doesn't let him give up on life, and makes him get back up and face life after it has knocked him down.

Lincoln and Sara Walker have gone through their share of heartache, but through it all, they had one another, and that was enough to make it past the turmoil and into the calm.

But the calm has gone, and with it, Lincoln's security that all is okay with him and his wife. Sara is keeping something from him, something big, and every day that she remains close-lipped about it is a day he wonders if her love for him is fading, if she regrets being with him.

Sara reaffirms her love for Lincoln with the greatest Christmas gift of all, a blessing so tiny, yet so significant. She shows him it is their time now, that no regrets have a place in their love, and that he will always be hers, just as she will always be his.

Review

So close to the end of my list!

I had to search for this one, as it was not appearing on my Kindle App. I then realized it was because the edition I had came from Smashwords and is no longer available. Apparently I downloaded it onto my PC app because it was still there.

Anyway, I loved this novelette because it shows a little snippet of Sara's and Lincoln's lives after Take Care, Sara.

We still see Sara struggling to let herself live life peacefully, but through Lincoln we find out she has been kind of mopey for the past couple of months.

Then Lincoln finds out why and doesn't take the explanation of "why" very well. Which is justified because keeping secrets isn't all that good for relationships.

Sara and Lincoln are one of my favorite book couples because they help each other heal and provide strength for each other, which is something that I think is needed in a relationship.

Sara Walker knows firsthand what it feels like to have your reality ripped away, scrambled, and shoved back at you in an undone puzzle where pieces are missing and nothing fits. She's lost so much and is struggling to live and to find the strength to forgive herself for being human. With the help of Lincoln, her husband's brother, Sara realizes it's not about finding who she used to be, but about finding who she is now.

You breathe in, you breathe out, and everything you know isn't gone, but reborn.

Review

Take Care, Sarais a book I hold very close to my heart. It's about loss, guilt, and forgiveness. This story was real because it had real characters who experience very real situations. While I don't know the kind of loss Sara experiences, I know people who have lost so many loved ones, and it is a wonder that they wake up everyday with a smile. It takes time to heal, and some people, like Sara, like my dad, have lost so many, you have to wonder how they find the strength to carry on.

Sara's story made me reflect on my own life. What would I do if something that happened to her were to happen to me? How would I react? Could I move on with my life afterwards?

I know that many have shed tears because of this book. I didn't. Did this book make me sad? Yes, yes it did. But it wasn't the kind of soul-shattering sadness that I associate with crying. It was more the type of sadness that weighs heavy on the heart, the kind that makes it difficult to breathe.

Sara's grief is crippling, but so is Lincoln's. His even more so. And yet Lincoln finds within himself the strength to not only grieve and try to heal, but he also helps Sara learn to heal by letting go of something that will never return.

Review

This book was another book that frustrated me because of the characters. Don't get me wrong, I loved them and sympathized with them, but they frustrated me!

Angst! Angst everywhere! I loved that this was from a male's POV because there aren't enough books these days that are like that. Grayson isn't like most male characters I read about. At least at his age. His home life isn't exactly peachy, and he finds himself struggling to keep doing the right thing.

His actions correlate with those of any teenager. He's immature at times, confused, and is constantly trying to do what he thinks is the best thing for others. He is noble to a fault and kind of reminds me of my brother at times because of this trait of his. (So yeah, Grayson isn't my book boyfriend.)

Lily comes off as a weak person to me at times, kind of like she is awkward in her own skin. I don't know if I'm explaining myself. But, anyway, there are other times where her strength shines through. She is also as noble as Grayson, which brings me back to the angst!

I wish these two could have sat down and rationally talked things out. But they're teenagers, and sort of hormonal. The way they argued throughout this book reminded me of my sister and I when we fight. We don't let each other explain, we stop speaking to each other for long periods of time, and it's usually a very emotionally-draining ordeal.

Lily's immaturity (not that Grayson didn't have his moments of it) bothered me. It's the way in which she communicated with Grayson that bothered me. Why not just talk face-to-face? Woman up. She was avoiding confrontations with Grayson via these messages, and while it was cute at first, she continued doing it and it just wore my patience.

If you love drama and angst (I do, I'm masochistic that way) then this book is one I would recommend. Lindy's writing improves with every book she publishes, and this one has you experiencing each of the character's emotions.

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